Finally!

A comprehensive video course to teach you the brain and body skills to be ready for ANY kind of childbirth!

CRAZY TALK!

Seriously. Pain-coping in childbirth isn’t just for hippy earth-mother goddesses. Every woman (and partner) benefits when they know how to deal with exhaustion, frustration, medical procedures, contractions and the UNKNOWN.

READY FOR THE SPECTRUM

You can be ready for the REALITY of birth, not just a pretty fantasy. Gird your loins for the hard work of contractions with tried-and-true mindfulness techniques, comfort positions and effective tricks. Know exactly how to breathe and relax through medical support and interventions. Connect with your baby and your partner in the event of a Cesarean Birth.

Partners gain confidence with fine-tuned instructions for how to provide relief (while also saving their backs). Feel ready to support her fully!

With your baby in your arms, you’ll know you did this thing, fully engaged and ready to roll with WHATEVER birth brought you. THAT’S a good birth. Kick-ass, even.

Watch from anywhere! Anytime!

what’s included?

A LOOK AT WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN 7 MODULES:

Start with YOU as an individual

Thought-provoking exercises to get to know your coping style. What already works for you? What does your brain and body do in stressful times? What life experiences do you bring to this new one? We’ll build on THAT.

Understanding of the Labor Process

Find out about the common needs and behaviors of early labor, active labor, transition and pushing. Each module starts with some education to better understand why the coping works!

Mindfulness "Brain Skills"

You will practice and perfect five tried-and-true mindfulness techniques to gain control of your thoughts and learn to steer yourself toward coping. Learn to recognize suffering and how to choose a more helpful approach.

"Body Skills" Comfort Positions

See real couples work through the nuances of various positions for each phase of labor. Watch what relaxation looks like. Learn how to communicate in the heat of things. Practice these skill on your furniture in your home.

Respectful Partner Focus

Birth mothers aren’t going through this labor thing alone, and partners also need tools. I address birth companions with respect and realism, showing them how they can best support her while also honoring their own entry into parenthood.

Actionable "Practice" at every step

We’re going beyond just theory with real homework (and real discomfort) to get this stuff INTO your body. So when that first contraction arrives, you already have habits and experience to best manage each step.

Be Intervention Savvy

Medical support has its place. Learn how to cope with the unexpected mentally and physically. Be ready to connect with your team as you birth your baby with awareness and presence, however that looks.

Continual Self-Reflection

Following the course guide and the evocative prompts in the videos, you will continually return to “What do I think about this?” and “What resonates with ME here?” to make you the expert in your own coping and birth navigation. You are the source of your knowing.

“...there were a lot of things we learned from you, but I wanted to say a special thank you for preparing us for the things that weren't even on our radar.”

Enroll Now!

FAQs!

Do you offer any refunds or guarantees?

Absolutely. When I hit the “record” button on the very first video, I promised myself I would make something I could stand by. And I do. If you aren’t happy for any reason in the first 30 days, just send me an email for a full refund.

When does the course start and finish?

The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced, online course – YOU decide when you start and when you finish. You can binge-watch it Netflix style, but I highly recommend pacing yourself. You’ll get so much more by integrating and practicing each mindfulness technique before moving on to the next module.

How long do I have access to the course?

Forever! Register for “Coped Up” once and you’ll have lifetime access to the course materials. Pretty nice, because it turns out that parenting also requires the same sort of coping techniques.

What format is the course content offered in?

The course materials are shared as video content, audio downloads and a course workbook. So, whether you prefer to read, write, watch, or listen to the content, you’ll be covered.

I'm already taking a birth class. Do I need this one?

That really depends. There are a lot of flavors of childbirth education out there. The vast majority have an emphasis on what could happen, but very few focus on HOW you can get through it. And the few that do include coping techniques are often biased toward a specific sort of birth outcome. I know that “Coped Up” is unique as a skill-building course. It’s a fantastic pairing with other ways you are preparing for birth (e.g. a hospital class or an information-based class.), and can also stand alone as a complete education in getting through birth.

Can't I just get all of this information from books/the internet/my best friend?

I mean, yeah. Most of this stuff is ancient (except the medical support information), so the information is out in the world. However! I’m going to save you a lot of time and mental filtering. Birth preparation is LOADED with opinions. You’ve probably already experienced everyone’s well-meaning advice already!

Having attended hundreds of births, I’ve tested and tried many different tricks and approaches. Here I’m bringing you a sequential system that works. I’ll take you from early labor to active labor, through medical intervention, working with your partner, pushing and even just after birth. While it’s impossible to know exactly how your birth will unfold, the factors that help people cope are universal.

I'm considering an Epidural (or other pain medication). Is this course for me?

Here’s my honest answer: 85% of the time, Epidurals work completely. A lot of mothers get great relief from contraction pain with this Cadillac of modern medicine. However, I’ve been working a long time, and I’ve seen the whole picture. The intensity of birth is more than just contractions: there’s fatigue, nausea, irritation, medical navigation, procedures and the UNKNOWN. There is still so much to be prepared for, so much that can surprise new parents. Even GETTING an Epidural can be something to cope with. We’ll cover it all.

Is this a Birthing From Within Course?

You may have noticed that I am a certified Birthing From Within mentor. The beauty and power of the BFW method can not be accomplished through a video format. It is an interactive, living method of birth preparation that requires a skillful guide through the processes. So while I bring the spirit and attitude of BFW to everything I do, this course is NOT a Birthing From Within course. If you have the opportunity to take a birth preparation from a BFW mentor, I highly recommend you do so! (And if you are in the northern Illinois area, take one with me!)